Device for discharging processed or worked lengths of material from a work table

ABSTRACT

A device for discharging processed or worked lengths of material from a work table the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof. The device includes a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the table and connected to a source of compressed air, and a receiving bar pivoted about an axis below the table on which the lengths are eventually straddled. The upper conduit is positioned at the level of the work table and the lower bar is positioned at the same level as the receiving bar. The jet of air formed by the lower conduit retains the portion hanging over the end of the table against the receiving bar while the jet of air formed by the upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the table onto the receiving bar such that the length is straddled on the receiving bar.

United States Patent [191 Robert 154] DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING PROCESSED OR WORKED LENGTHS 0F MATERIAL FROM A WORK TABLE [76] Inventor: Roger Robert, 7, Rue du Cardinal Saliege, Saint Quentin, France [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,777

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 Jan. 23, 1973 Kast ..271/74 McDearmid ..271/63 R X ABSTRACT A device for discharging processed or worked lengths of material from a work table the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof. The device includes a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the table and connected to a source of compressed air, and a receiving bar pivoted about an axis below the table on which the lengths are eventually straddled. The upper conduit is positioned at the level of the work table and the lower bar is positioned atthe same level as the receiving bar. The jet of air formed by the lower conduit retains the portion hanging over the end of the table against the receiving bar while the jet of air formed by the upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the table onto the receiving bar such that the length is straddled on the receiving bar.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures v PAIENTEUJANZB m3 3.712.609

SHEET 1 [IF 2 ROGER ROBERT MhLVIl l L,t-IHASS% RJOJILH and HOHMAN attorneys PATENTEDJANZB I975 3,712,609 SHEET 2 UF 2 ROGER ROBERT MELVILLE STRASSER, FOSTER and HOFFMAN uHorneyS edge of the table.

DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING PROCESSED OR I WORKED LENGTHS OF MATERIAL FROM A WORK TABLE The present invention concerns a device for discharging worked or processed lengths in the course of the manufacture of clothes or similar fabric articles.

The discharge of worked or processed lengths from sewing machines or other machines is known to be very time consuming especially when handling of large lengths.

For several years a certain number of devices have been devised for mechanizing this operation and to thereby reduce the length of the operating cycle.

The solutions which have been adopted always employ the principle of receiving the pieces on a bar which is usually movable, the article in general stradles the receiving bar.

In all these devices the processed length has a little less than half of its length resting on the table of the machine while its other half hangs vertically from the Starting from this position of the length, several mechanical systems bring the horizontal part spread on the table to a vertical position either by means of a bar partly located under the table which has an upwards translatory movement and which is adapted to lift the length and thereby bring its horizontal part into a vertical position, either by a bar located beyond the table and parallel thereto and which moves under the table carries away the vertical part of the length and with it the horizontal part which slides across the table and drops into the vertical position.

In another: system external bar grips the vertical part of thelength against the edge of the table below a series of grooves or conduits connected to a compressed air system which by blowing a jet of air turns the horizontal part of the length about the bar which then falls vertically. j a

It should be, noted" that in the first described mechanical system thelength is straddled on the bar with the same side up it had on the table,'whereas in the two other systems the length is turned over.

But in all these systems, the movement of the bar is necessary and the mechanical elements are generally remotely controlled. However these elements are ex pensive and often very cumbersome. Y

An aim of the invention is to provide a very simple device which overcomes the' foregoing disadvantages and which enables the collection on a bar without necessitating-a mechanical displacement, a series of lengths straddling the bar with either side up, i.e., on the right side or the reverse side.

Thedevice essentially comprises two perforate conduits providedwith holes and positioned parallel to the edge of the work table and beyond it, the upper. perforate conduit placed at a level slightly belowthat of the table acts as means for transferring or reversing the worked lengthonto a receiving bar situated at the same level as the lower perforate conduit acting as a retaining or gripping'means, the air carried under pressure in the two conduits grip the hanging part of the worked length brought to the edge of the table against the receiving bar under the action of the lower perforate conduit to pull and flip over the horizontal part of the piece, under the action of the upper perforate conduit the table from the other side of the receiving bar thereby placing the length in the straddled position thereon.

A removable overhanging member connects the upper face of the table to the reversing upper conduit depending on whether it is desired to straddle the length on the receiving bar with the right side of the length up or down.

The receiving bar is supported either by stationary supports under the table or by movable arms pivoting about stationary pins under the table, or by a carriage stand.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the operating principle of the device according to the invention FIG. 2 shows the device at the end of its operation;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the perforate conduits, the receiving bar being beyond the table;

FIG. 4 shows the same embodiment of perforate conduits, the receiving bar being aligned with the edge of FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the support for the receiving bar a FIG. 6 shows asupport with movable arms;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a bar carried by -a carriage. I

The operating principle of the device is extremely simple. The device consists of two horizontal perforate conduits 1 and 2 (FIG. 1) disposed parallel to and behind the work table 3.

The reversing or transferring upper perforate conduit 1 is situated at a level slightly lower thanthat of the table and the overhanging portion 4 which is preferably detachable and which connects the table to the upper perforate conduit 1 in passing over the gap between the upper perforate conduit and the table.

The perforate conduits. are connected to a compressed-air circuit and flow therein :is controlled by means of amanually or electrically operable valve. The pressure can be from 4-6 bars.

The lower perforate conduit 2 for gripping or retaining is situated at the level of a receiving bar 5.

The operation of the device is simple. When the work on the length 6 is completed, it is in the position on the table 3 shown in FIG. 1. The length 6 comprises a horizontal part AB resting on the table and a vertical part BC hanging off the table.

If air is carried under pressure into the two perforate conduits l and 2, the jet of air blown from the perforate conduit 2' pushes back the part BC of the length 6 and urges it against the receiving bar 5 and maintains it suspended at a point D. Simultaneously, the jet of air blown from the perforate conduit 1 exerts a thrust on the part AB and causesit to flip over onto the bar 5 and to drop vertically on the other side of the receiving bar so that the length 6 straddles the receiving bar such as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be noted that the combined use of two jets of air acting at two levels enables the positioning of the length 6 without any mechanical movements.

The appropriate positioning of the perforate conduits l and 2 and that of the bar 5 as well as an adequate distribution of the air jet along the conduits enables rapid discharge and collection.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the device in which the two perforate conduits l and 2 extend from a single conduit 7 carrying only a single inlet air flow. in this embodiment the bar is situated beyond the table 3 and the overhanging portion 4 allows the lengths 6 to pass over the gap between the edge of the table 3 and the perforate conduits and to hang between there and the receiving bar 5. It is seen in this case that the length 6 is turned over in the course of its positioning on the bar 5 In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 the jets from the perforate conduits are directed in the opposite direction towards the receiving bar 5 in line with the edge of the table 3. In this case the overhanging portion 4 is removed and the lengths 6 are placed on the receiving bar 5 with the same side up as they had on the table 3 before flipping over them.,

The bar 5 can be supported in various manners. In FIG. 5 the receiving bar is carried by two stationary supports 8 fixed under the table 3, the bar can possibly be fixed as a handling support.

In FIG. 6 the receiving bar 5f has an elbow to form two arms, arm 5'a is pivoted on fixed pivot pins under the table 3. Thus formed, the bar can be lifted and returned manually or automatically towards the operator in order to facilitate the discharge of a group of lengths accumulated on the bar. This arrangement is particularly useful for small pieces.

The receiving bar 5 can also be supported by a carriage stand 10 (FIG. 7) which enables the discharge of the groups of lengths or their transfer to another work station.

The device according to the invention has various advantages. It is not cumbersome and is of a simple construction since it does not have any moving parts. It requires only a source of air under pressure and an ordinary or electric control valve.

The position of the perforate conduits either under the table or beyond the table enables the collecting of the worked lengths with the turning over of the lengths or leaving them with the same side up.

The device according to the invention is particularly useful for workshops manufacturing or assembling clothes for the collection of the lengths at the discharge end of the machines.

In the case of programmed or remote-controlled machines it is necessary to provide, by any suitable known means staggering between the starting of air jets and the immobilization and the flipping over respectively What we claim is:

l. A device for discharging lengths of material from a work table, the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof, comprising a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the work table, the conduits being adapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure to produce jets of air, a receiving bar disposed at a level beneath the work table, the upper conduit being positioned at the level of the work table and the lower conduit being positioned at the level of the receiving bar, and a detachable overhanging portion connecting the upper surface of the work table with the upper conduit, whereby a jet of air from the lower conduit retains the part of the len th hanging over the table against the receiving bar whi e the et of air from the upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the work table over the receiving bar, so that the side of the length facing up on the table before discharge is the side facing down straddled on the receiving bar after discharge.

2. A device for discharging lengths of material from a work table, the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof, comprising a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the work table, the conduits being adapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure to produce jets of air, and a receiving bar disposed at a level beneath the work table, the upper conduit being positioned at the level of the work table and the lower conduit being positioned at the level of the receiving bar, said receiving bar being disposed between said conduits and said table, whereby a jet of air from the lower conduit retains the part of the length hanging over the table against the receiving bar while the jet of air from he upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the work table over the receiving bar, so that the side of the length facing up on the table before discharge is facing up when straddled on the receiving bar after discharge.

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1. A device for discharging lengths of material from a work table, the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof, comprising a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the work table, the conduits being adapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure to produce jets of air, a receiving bar disposed at a level beneath the work table, the upper conduit being positioned at the level of the work table and the lower conduit being positioned at the level of the receiving bar, and a detachable overhanging portion connecting the upper surface of the work table with the upper conduit, whereby a jet of air from the lower conduit retains the part of the length hanging over the table against the receiving bar while the jet of air from the upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the work table over the receiving bar, so that the side of the length facing up on the table before discharge is the side facing down straddled on the receiving bar after discharge.
 2. A device for discharging lengths of material from a work table, the lengths having a part lying on the work table and a part hanging over an edge thereof, comprising a pair of parallel superposed perforate conduits spaced from the edge of the work table, the conduits being adapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure to produce jets of air, and a receiving bar disposed at a level beneath the work table, the upper conduit being positioned at the level of the work table and the lower conduit being positioned at the level of the receiving bar, said receiving bar being disposed between said conduits And said table, whereby a jet of air from the lower conduit retains the part of the length hanging over the table against the receiving bar while the jet of air from he upper conduit flips the part of the length lying on the work table over the receiving bar, so that the side of the length facing up on the table before discharge is facing up when straddled on the receiving bar after discharge. 